The U.S. Senate has advanced a continuing resolution to fund the government through December 11, avoiding a shutdown ahead of the November midterm elections. The measure passed procedural hurdles with an 89-4 vote, clearing the way for final passage in the coming days.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., confirmed the timeline, stating lawmakers aim to complete the bill before recessing for August. The resolution follows the House’s approval of an interim spending bill in July, which extended funding through December 4. Senate Democrats, who previously blocked a similar measure last year over healthcare subsidies, have now signaled support for the updated proposal.
Senators are prioritizing the funding bill alongside a slate of other agenda items, including confirmation votes for executive nominees, a Russia sanctions bill, and a bipartisan college athletics measure. Thune has indicated the chamber may remain in session beyond its planned recess to address the backlog, warning that September will bring a "mad rush" ahead of Election Day.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., emphasized the urgency of avoiding a shutdown, stating, "We want to fund the government and avoid a shutdown." However, internal Republican divisions persist, with Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., seeking to strip language from the resolution that has drawn concern within the GOP conference.
The Senate’s agenda also includes the confirmation of Todd Blanche as attorney general, which remains a point of contention. Thune has framed the workload as a test of bipartisan cooperation, noting that cooperation from Democrats will determine how quickly the chamber can process pending items.
Lawmakers are under pressure to clear the bulk of the to-do list before the five-week August recess, though delays could push votes into early September. The continuing resolution’s passage would mark the second time in two years that Congress has relied on short-term funding measures to avert a government shutdown.
Background: The Senate’s current efforts follow last year’s 43-day partial government shutdown, triggered by disputes over Obamacare subsidies and broader fiscal policy. The new resolution avoids those controversies by focusing solely on temporary funding, though lawmakers acknowledge the December deadline leaves little time for comprehensive budget negotiations before the next fiscal year begins on October 1.